"Help him off with that thing, dear," Alicia added, and herself advanced to Rockwell and took his hands, offering to be kissed--an offer of which Rockwell took advantage with some fervour.
"Yes, I'll help you," said Mollie June, moving somewhat timidly in Merriam's direction.
He met her more than half way.
"Please," he said. "I'm all bound round with a woolen string."
Mollie June drew the ends of the scarf down off his shoulders and untied the loose knot under his chin.
"There!" she said, looking up at him.
Merriam snatched the thing off his head, ruffling his hair.
"Thank you!"
Rockwell's voice reached them across the room. Aunt Mary had been hurriedly narrating the happenings with Thompson. He now looked approvingly at Merriam.
"That's all right," he said, reflectively. "Very good. Yes. Just as well to defy him at once. Could hardly have been better. Ah, there's Hobart now, I suppose," for a discreet knock had sounded at the hall door.